At just 21 years old, Bianca Bustamante has already become one of the most recognizable faces in women’s motorsport. After her journey in F1 Academy with McLaren, the Filipino driver embraced a new challenge in Eurocup-3 with Palou Motorsport (run by Alex Palou himself). Following her season in GB3, this move has allowed her to continue her development both on and off the track. During the 4 Hours of Imola, a round of the European Le Mans Series, the Formula1andco editorial team was on-site at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari to cover an action-packed weekend of motorsport. With several categories racing and numerous international stars in attendance, all the ingredients for an unforgettable race weekend were certainly there.
That same weekend also featured the Eurocup-3 championship, giving us the opportunity to meet some of its brightest young talents, such as Sztuka and Powell. Among them, I, Louis Rosace, had the honour of interviewing Bianca Bustamante. Throughout the Imola weekend, we also had the chance to speak with two other outstanding female drivers, Jamie Chadwick and Doriane Pin, completing a trilogy entirely dedicated to the women who are making their mark in motorsport. Throughout the interview, Bianca, as open and genuine as ever, reflects on how her experiences have shaped her both as a driver and as a person, the challenges she has faced, and her relationship with social media.
The interview with Bianca Bustamante
1) Looking at F1 Academy today, how much do you feel the championship has genuinely shaped you as a driver compared to how it is perceived from the outside, especially in terms of handling pressure and race weekend execution?
“I believe the most important part of my experience in F1 Academy, and what I appreciated the most, was that it opened so many doors for me. Coming from the Philippines, where opportunities in motorsport are extremely limited, I simply couldn’t find an environment where I could grow and develop as a driver. F1 Academy gave me exactly that space: the chance to compete without constantly worrying about financial challenges. Thanks to the fact that all ten Formula 1 teams support one driver in the championship, around 90% of the costs are covered. That allowed me to focus on my development on track, while also taking advantage of a platform that gave me incredible visibility. It helped me grow my personal brand, my social media channels and the community of people who follow me today.”
2) During your time with McLaren, what was the most subtle but impactful lesson you took away — was it a working method, an analytical approach, or a different understanding of what it means to be a professional driver?
“I think F1 Academy puts its drivers under a great deal of pressure. There is an extremely high level of competition, while at the same time you’re constantly under the spotlight. As a McLaren driver, I had to develop even greater determination and learn to give my very best at every circuit, especially during the most difficult moments. Whether the result is good or bad, you always have to look ahead and keep your mindset focused on the next challenge. I believe that has helped me grow enormously as a driver.
The years I spent in F1 Academy represented an incredible period of personal growth, during which I reached a level of maturity that I can now put into practice. Now that I have completed my journey in F1 Academy, I have graduated from the McLaren Driver Development Programme and moved into Eurocup-3. I am now competing against far more experienced drivers, in a field of 30 cars. This very weekend, for example, I managed to finish inside the top 15. I fought consistently for those positions despite the many neutralisations and Safety Cars, but I stayed calm and made the right decisions. I believe this is the result of the mental maturity I have developed over the past few years.”
Image credit: Bianca Bustamante via X3) Competing in Eurocup-3 with Palou Motorsport, first of all how would you describe this weekend in Imola and how much do you like this track. Also which specific areas of your driving did you find yourself having to adapt the most compared to previous categories — corner entry, tyre management, or reading grip over a stint?
“It was my first time racing at Imola, and in fact my first opportunity to drive this circuit. I went straight from free practice into qualifying and then into the races. From a technical point of view, I believe I adapted to the track conditions more quickly than many of the drivers around me. I qualified in 24th place, but in each race I managed to recover between eight and nine positions, which I consider a very positive result, especially knowing how difficult overtaking is at Imola.
At this circuit, it is essential to make the most of every opportunity, choosing the right moment to attempt an overtake and doing so in a calculated way. It is very easy to make a mistake, come into contact with another car or end up in the gravel. As we saw yesterday, there were three Safety Cars and several drivers lost control of their cars while trying to make a move. For some of them, that compromised their race. I, on the other hand, managed to make the most of every opportunity, not only thanks to my speed but also because I was able to read each situation and react quickly. That is exactly what Imola teaches you: you must always remain extremely alert, because anything can happen at any moment, whether in front of you or behind you.”
4) From your GB3 season, what was the most demanding aspect that wasn’t visible in the results but was crucial for your development — adapting to new circuits, internal team competition, or consistency across very different track characteristics?
“I think the hardest part of my time in GB3 was the fact that the championship was so heavily centred around the British motorsport environment. There is a tremendous focus on British motorsport, and even the teams operate very differently from what I was used to. Up until then I had only raced with Italian and French teams, and now that I have returned to work with Prema and Palou Motorsport, I realise that difference even more. For me, moving into British F3 and working with lower-tier teams such as Elite, for example, was a real cultural shock, as they simply did not have the same level of preparation.
As a result, during that season I had to become very self-sufficient, and I believe that is also why I did not develop as much as a driver as I could have. Returning to the European environment and working with top-level teams such as Prema and Palou Motorsport is completely different. We are fighting for both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships, I can rely on excellent technical guidance, and the simulator preparation allows me to arrive fully ready from the very start of each race weekend. In the end, I truly believe the saying: ‘If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.’ That was probably the greatest challenge I have ever had to overcome.”
Image credit: Bianca Bustamante via X5) With such a strong social media presence, how challenging is it to separate your identity as a racing driver from your public persona, especially during periods when results don’t fully reflect the work behind the scenes?
“Those two aspects often overlap, because on social media I always try to be as authentic as possible. I have never pretended to be someone I’m not. In fact, whenever I have found myself in difficult situations, it has usually been because I chose to be as vulnerable and honest as I could. Whenever I had a bad race, I always took responsibility for my mistakes. I believe that is what truly sets you apart: you are not your mistakes, and you should never define yourself by your failures.
If there is one thing that defines you, it is the way you overcome your setbacks and learn from them. With that mindset, I have never felt the need to separate the person I am on social media from the person I am in real life, because social media is simply an extension of who I am. It reflects my personality and the things I love most, first and foremost motorsport. I believe that is a positive thing. Having this mindset has also allowed me to distance myself from the pressure of constantly having to live up to other people’s expectations. At the end of the day, my social media represents me: I only share what I want, and I believe that having this level of self-control and emotional awareness is an incredibly important quality.”
6) You’re often seen as a role model for young girls in motorsport: to what extent is that an identity you actively embraced, and to what extent is it a responsibility that has been placed on you from the outside?
“I believe that being a role model does not necessarily mean always being perfect or always making the right decisions. I think setting a good example also means showing your failures and your less positive sides because, at the end of the day, I am simply a person. I am only 21 years old and I am living this life for the first time—it’s not like I get a second chance to do it all over again. Every day I live, every year that passes and every race I compete in helps me continue to evolve as a person. It is a journey of constant growth because you will never reach a final, perfect version of yourself.
I don’t believe you can reach the age of 90 and think, ‘Now I’m finally perfect.’ It simply isn’t possible. To me, being a good role model means being aware of the qualities that make you different from others. It also means embracing those differences and striving every single day to become a better version of yourself. That, to me, is what defines a true role model: not someone who is always flawless, but someone who recognises when they can do better and is committed to improving. With this mindset, I have never felt the need to live up to an image or to the expectations imposed by others. I have simply realised that the more sincere and authentic I am, the lighter the weight on my shoulders becomes.”
Image credit: Bianca Bustamante via XWe would like to sincerely thank Bianca Bustamante, Palou Motorsport, and her manager Darryl O’Young on behalf of the entire Formula1andco editorial team for making this interview possible.
Cover image credit: LaureusSport via X
Interview by Louis Rosace.
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